Interior fortress



July l5, 1927.

c. H. sTRoUg'E INTERIOR FORTRESS 5 sheew-sheet 1 Filed Julyg. 192e NM. l

A gri/oglio@ WW N" July 5, 1927./ 1,634,598

C. H. STROUSE INTERIOR FoRTREssy Filed July9. 1926 3 Sheets-Shet 2 gin/vento@ CHC-RLS@ HTSOUSE;

July 5, 1927. 41,634,598

C. H. STROUSE I INTERIOR FoRTREss Filed July9. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 31a/mank l CHemE Hfrreousf tion is Patented July 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. STROUSE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

INTERIOR Application 'led July 9,

y they may find shelter and opportunity to counter attack.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a fortress for the interior of banks and other public business houses, such fortress having special observation windows, and special port holes for shooting at holdup men.

It is one of my main objects to provide an' interior fortress in such mannerthat it has a portion extending out from the main building structure, as an exterior fortification being adapted to serve as a means observation and shooting at bandits, especially as they aretleeing after committing robbery. i It is a further ob'ect to provide private entrance into said ortress from all floors of the institution, including the basement,

and a convenient route thru which the bank employees may readily escape from the bandits and' find their Way in said fortress, whereby they may vshoot from behind substantially bullet proof steel faced walls, or

the like.

It is alsov an object to have such fortress extended substantially the full length of the. building in overhead manner thru which ample protection may be had for an part of the bank rooms, without lo -o floor space to the business itself.

The above' and other objects are attained by the structure 'illustrated in the accompan ing drawings, in which: online 1-1 of ig. 2, Fi re 1 isa sectional plan view showing the oor and walls of a bank building, in conjunction with which my invenshown embodied, and also the arrangement of the tellerscages, etc. F ig. 2 is a side sectional view taken vxin the proximty of line 2-2 -of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional viewtaken in the proximity ofl FOBTBESS.

1926. Serial No. 121,358.

of line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is ya front fragmentary elevation of the building proper, showing the exterior termination of the fortress; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view illustrating a modified form of the invention as will be-understood.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts thruout the several views. Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 designates the main floor of a banking institution. The ,numeral 2 designates the front wall of the bank building, the numeral 3, the rear wall, the numeral 4 one of the side walls, numeral 5 the'other side Wall, and numeral 6J the ceiling.

The tellers cages 7 face toward the custoners space 8, the money counters 9 being accordingly provided at the front of said cages in conventional manner. The rear of said cages are disposed toward the side wall`4. l

The space 10, fenced olf by the railing 11 may be used as the oice 'quarters for the active bank oficers, and the space 12, for clerical help, as desired. It is understood, however, that since practically no two banks are alike in/ the matter ofarrangement-of their fixtures and employees, it is not feasible to restrict my invention to the particular arrangement of any one bank.

My new and novel features are carried into effect by providing an overhead fortress 13, on the order of 'a hall way or runway. Said fortress is conveniently suspended from the ceiling 6, rearwardly of the cages 7; and is arranged the full length of the banking building, from front Wall 2 to rear Wall 3.

Said lfortress is conveniently constructed by extending the fortress floor 14, thereof, from the side wall 4, inshelf manner, by which arrangement, said sidewall serves also as one of the walls of said fortress. Said fortress floor' is com aratively narrow as considered in Fig. 3, ut quite extensive as f shown in Fig. 1 and Fig, 2; On the overhanging edge 15 on said fortress floor a wall 16 extends upwardl and joins the ceiling 6, and serves as. t c inner fortress wall.. The fortress wall 16 and said fortress floor extend forwardly tluwthe'frontl building wall 2,and rearwardly to the rear building wall 3. In forward continuation of said fortress, an exterior @rtiication 17 is` formedl in bay window manner, said front building Wall being otherwise open-at itsy juncture with said fortress, for communieating said fortiiication with the fortress proper.

A stair-way 13 leads upwardly from the main floor 1, to the fortress floor 14, a door 19, being provided to give entrance to said stair-way from said :main floor. A set of stair steps leads from the basement floor 21, to said stair-way by which said fortress may be reached, without exposure to the public view Another set of basement steps 22 is provided, rearwardly of the tellers cages to which entry thru the especially provided door 23, and stair-way 211, to the basement 25 may be readily made. After entry has thus been effected to said basement, the fortress 13 may be reached by means of the stair steps 20, and the stair-way 18.

The inner wall 16 of said fortress is provided with lookouts 26, and port holes 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 preferably to the right of each thereof, whereby a person may, while at one of said look-outs, reach out thru the respective port hole with a revolver and make a counter attack upon attacking bandits. It is understood however,that rifles 33 are also kept within the fortress preferably near said port holes, and 'nay be used as well as revolvers, thru said port holes. Said port holes are each provided `with hin ed doors 34`which are shown in opened position at port holes 27 and 30.

The outer surfaces of the floor 14 and wall 16, in respect to the fortress itself, are faced.- with substantially bullet proof steel plating 35 or the equivalent, meaning the under surface 36 of said lioor and the surface 37 of said wall, which would otherwise be exposed tothe interior of the banking room.

The look-outs 26 are constructed byproviding window like holes 38 thru the main structure of the fortress wall 16, and providing horizontal. slits 39 in the steel plating 35 thru which observations may be made from within the fortress. The metallic strips 40 left between said slits are formed in half punch manner as vunderstood by mechanics, and remain integrally supported at their ends by the adjoining plating 35. Said strips are-thus stationarily disposed, but otherwise resemble the old and conven tional window shutters, except that l prefer to form said strips part-cylindrical about an inward horizontal axis which #gives same a I drooping characteristic.

Inverted-funnel shaped peep holes 41 are provided in the fortress floor 14, thru which observations, and shooting ma be carried out, it being understood that said peep holes serve also as a means to secretly scrutinize the conduct of the bank tellers and other employees, to ascertain their diligence, compotence or honesty.

One vof the important characteristics lof. mv invention lies in the aforesaid exterior nece-,eee

fortification 17, formed on the front end of the fortress 13, having combined port holes and look-outs 42, L13, and a5, which v'are closable by means of their doors 46, the

tomers space 8 in plain view of the public.

Such watchmen are usually as helpless in case of a hold up as any other employee of the bank as the bandits give immediate attention to overpowering the police or guards present, before making further procedure.

ln institutions where my invention is used, the watchman may spend the most part of his time in the fortress which is always kept supplied .with fire arms and ammunition 7 of size, variety and quantityvthat could not be regularly carried, about, and-could not be displayed, without undesirable edect up on the public. Shelves a8 are provided near some of said port holes as desired upon which may be kept revclvers a9.

@ne of the most important advantages in the use of my invention, however, lies in the with the the exact movements of employees within an institution and never being able to ascertain whether or not there is some one on duty in the fortress, will be greatly deterred from making hold-ups by this un certainty, it being necessary to make more sure of their ground before beginningD lt. is alsointended that bank employees other than the regular bank police guards may spend time within the fortress, especially when it is necessary for the guard to be relieved from duty.

Chairs 50, and other furniture such as tables 51, or desks are provided along in the fortress to add to the comfort of the occupants, and to also provide a means of dof ien uit y illD being understood that the look-outs 26 pro. 'l

vide ample means to hear the, sounds coming from the confusion of a bank or other open robbery. lt will therefore not benecessary for the fortress occupant to be on constant watch at the look-outs,

When bank hold-ups have occurred in the past, the employees and particularly the tellers, have seldom had meansl of escape, or

of fighting the bandits, even if the oppor tunity occurred: VWhere my invention is used, however,'any employee of the bank may,`if the opportunity occurs escape to the fortress 13 byrway 'of the basement 25 thru.

the door 23,- or the usual basementstairs (not shown) or thru the door 19 and directly up the stair-way 18 to-said fortress. where they not only have bodily protection but Where they may with safety shoot at the bandits.

Another serious problem in connection l,

with hold-ups lies in the` fact that it has nearly always been veryimpractical to pursue fleeing bandits after a hold-up has been I committed; as such an attemptwould expose the pursuers to thel open lire of the escaping outlaws, with which, the pursuers are seldom if ever prepared to contend. Where my invention is `used some of the bank employees may rush to the fortress as soon as thebandits have fled, anu shoot at them from the exterior fortification 17.

Doors 02 are provided for the ventilators 53- which communicate the interiorof the fortress 13 with the exterior atmosphere. Said ventilators have double bendconduit characteristics to prevent any great amount of light from entering the fortress, underl certain conditions as will be understood.

/ It is understood that an inventionof this class must be adapted to the particular building with which it is embodied. For example the tellers cages are in some banks arranged along the rear wall of the banking room instead of along the side wall` as I have illustrated, in which instance the fortress would extend along both the side and the rear wall of the banking building and would accordingly have a general L plan formation. v

In a great many other banks, the tellers cages are on opposite sides of the banking room, the cages on one side facing those on the other, in which instance it would be appropriate to construct the fortresslin dual manner. one such fortress being provided along each side wall 'of the banking room, which arrangement would afford two exterior fortifications such as 17 If however, a fortress cf such dual character is not desired the invention is conveniently carried out by supporting a fortress 54 as illustrated by Fig. '5 along over a medial line betweenthe cages of the different sides of the room` in which instance it would be preferable to have look-outs' and port holes 56, in both side walls 57 and 58 of the fortress, the ventilating means 59 being also provided on both of said side walls to communicate with the banking room interior, it being also understood that ventilationl may be had from l the exterior, thru conduit means 60.

-It is understood that in instances where my invention is embodied in new buildings under construction, the fortress may .be constructed integrally with the main building walls as I have shown` while in placing the invention in old structures the fortress is added toA the building proper by any means within the realm of carpenters, bricklayers,

structural iron workers, or the like.-

In the example of the invention shown the fortress and building are constructed vmain-A ly of concrete, but it is understood that most any building material may be used, provided an armor plate of steel 35 or 61 or the equivalent' is used to face the exposed surfaces of such fortress.

`In many bank hold-ups the employees are ordered to go to the basement, under which conditions the steps 20 and stairway 18 are Aused to reach the fortress in the same manner as above-mentioned. s e

v Under lordinary conditions the fortress interior ma be illuminated by any convenient means. uring a hold-up, however, it is desirable to have the interior `of the fortress dark, by which it would be difficult for ban! dits to see -into 'the fortress thru'thedook outsor port holes and ascertain the location of the occupants. To further darken the for-v tress under such conditions a curtain 62 is suspended from lthe ceiling 6 over a medial line of the fortress by which arrangement said curtain serves as a screen by which light `l can scarcely show thru the fortress from one side to the other, and the vision from the `.outside is greatly hindered as desired.

It is understoodthat the fortresses such as are herein indicated may be used to protect any business other than banking institutions' as desired.

Combined port holes and look-outs 63 with suitable doors are provided for the fortress in the building wall 4, for observations and shooting in the same way as the look-outs in the exterior fortification 17.

If, when entrance to the fortification 13 is made'by way of thebasement 25, the door 19 should be open, it may be closed on the way thru the basement, by pulling the rope means 62, which engages the do0r` 19 as shown, and Which is threaded over the pulley means 63, and allowed to hang down into the basement 25 thru a suitable opening (not shown) in. the floor` 64. By this arrangement exposure of the parties at the doorway of the door 19 is avoided.

It is understood that both the door 23 and 19 have ordinary self locking door locks 65- d(not fully shown) or the equivalent by which said doors automatically lock themselves against attack when closed.

The dot and dash lines 66 indicate`an open position of they door 1,9 and the corresponding position of the rope means 62.

While Ihave illustrated in a general way,

certain structureswhich may be yemployed in carrying my invention into effect, it is Y diHerent parts of the main door; observation means at dierent points of advantage in said fortress; and port hole means for shooting from different points of advantage in said fortress.

2. An interior fortress for business institutions7 comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the public room of such institution; a means of reaching said fortress from different floors of such institution, and diiferent'parts of the main floor; observation means at' different points of advantage in said fortress; port hole means for shooting from dierent Ypoints of advantage in said fortress; andmeans for closingsaid port hole means as desired. i

3. An interior fortress for business7 institutions, comprisinr an over-head enclosure extending across the public room of such institution; a means of reaching said fortress -from dierent floors of such institution, and diifererd'. parts of the main floor; observai tion means at different points of advantage 'serving and shooting from said fortress to in said fortress; port hole means for shooting from `different points of advantage in said fortress; means for closing said port hole means as desired; and an exterior fortification directly communicated with said fortress for observin and shooting at bandits, outside of such institution.

1i. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the ublic room of such institution; a means otP reaching said fortress from dierent floors of such institution, and different parts of the main ioor; observation means at different points of advantage in said fortress; port hole means for shooting from different points of advantage in said fortress; an exterior fortification directly communicated with said fortress for observing and shooting at bandits; outside of such institution; and closable observation and port hole means for said fortification.

5. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the public room of such institution; a means of reaching said fortress from different floors of such institution, and different parts of the main floor; observationmeans at different points of advantage in said fortress; port hole means for shooting` from different points of advantage in said fortress; an exterior forti tication` directly communicated with said fortress for observing and shooting at bandits, outside of such institution; closable observation and port hole means for said fortification; and peep holes in lower regions of said fortification, for observing the private departments of said institutions, ,to detect dishonesty, incompetence or carelessness among the employees within the institution, and for obthe interior of same. i

nes-asse 6. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enciosurel rectly communicated Withsaid fortress for observing and shooting at band1ts,` outside:

of such institution; ciosable observ-ationand 'port hole means for-said fortification; peep holes in lower regions of said fortication for vobserving the private departments said institutions. Ito detect dishonesty incompetence or carelessness among the employees within the institution, and for observing and shooting from said fortress to the'interior of same; a means for observing and shooting from Within said fortress to the exterior of such institution; and a, screen means'disposed within said fortress to prevent light from showing thru same, for concealingl the occupants of such fortress.

7. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the public room of such institution; a means of reaching said fortress from different floors of such institution, and diferentparts of the main ioor; observation means at different points of ad- Vantagein said fortress; port'hole means for shooting from different points of advantage in said fortress; an exterior fortification directly communicated with said fortress for observing and shooting at bandits, outside of such institution; a closable observation and port hole means for said fortification; peep holes in lower regions of said fortification for observing the private departments of said institutions, to detect dishonesty, incompetence or carelessness among the employees within the institution, and for observlngand shooting from said fortress to the interior of same; a means for observing and shooting from Within said fortress to the exterior of such institution; a screen means disposed within said fortress to prevent light from showing thru same; for concealing the occupants of such fortress; and a means for Ventilating said fortress from exterior of such institution.

8. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosureextending across the public room of such institution; a means of reaching said fortress from different floors of such institution, and different parts of the main floor; observation means at different points of advantage in said fortress; port hole means for i Si) ing said fortress from 'the exterior of such institutlon. 9. An interzor fortress for buslness '1nst1- l tutions, comprising an over-head enclosure -ing said fortress fromy the exterior of such institution.

10. An interior fortress for business institutions,comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the ublic room of such in'- stitution' a means o reaching saidfortress from'different floors of such institution, and

, different parts of thc main fioor; observaservatio tion means at different points of advantage in said fortress; a means for observing 'and shooting from within said fortress to the exterior of such institution; a screen means disposed Within said fortress to prevent light from showing thru same, for concealing the occupants of such fortress; and a means for Ventilating said fortress from the exterior of such institution.

11. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the public room of such institution; a means of reachin said fortress from different floors of such institution; and diff rent parts Lof the main floor' obmeans atdiiferent points of advantage i `said fortress; port -hole means for shooting from different points of advantage in said fortress; peep holes in lower regions of said fortification for observing the rivate departments of said institutions, to etect dishonesty, incompetence, or carelessness amon the employees withln the institution, an for observing and shooting from said fortress to the interior of same; a means for observing and shooting from Within said fortress to the exterior of such institution; a screen means disposed within said fortress to prevent light from showing thru same, for concealing the occupants of such fortress; and a means for Ventilating said fortress from the exterior of such institution. i

12. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the public room of suchI institutionya means of reaching said fortress .fromidifferent fioors of such institution, and different parts of the main floor;

observation means at different points of ad- `vantage in said fortress; port hole means for shooting from different points of advantage inl said fortress; an. exterior fortification directly communicated -With said fortress for observing and shooting at bandits, outside of such institution; closable observation and port'hole means for said fortification; peep holes in lower regions of said,

-means disposed within said fortress to prevent light from showingV thru salme, for concealing the occupants'of such fortress; and a means for Ventilating said fortress from the exterior of such institution.

1f@ An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the public room of suchv institution; a means of reaching said fortress from different floors of such institution, and different parts of the main floors observation means at different points of advantage in said fortress; port hole means for shootin from different points of advantage in sai fortress' and peep holes in lowerv regions of said fortification for observing the private departments of said institutions, to detect dishonesty, incompetence or carelessness among the em loyees within directly communicated. with said fortress for observmg and shooting at bandits, outside of such institution.

15. An interior fortress for business insti-l tutions, comprising` an over--head enclosure extending acrossthe public room of such institution; a means ofreaching said fortress from different floors 4of such institution, and different parts of: the main floor' observation means at different points of advantage in said fortress; port hole" means for shooting from4 different points of advantage in said fortress; and a means for observing and shooting from within said fortressto the exterior of such institution. `16. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprisingcan over-head enclosure extending across the public room of such` ils ion and diierent parts of the-main floor; observation means at different points of advantage in said fortress; porthol-e means for shooting from different points of advantage in said fortress; and a soeen means disposed trees from dierent floorsl of such institu- 't Within saidL fortress to prevent iight from' 'points of advantage in'said fortress; and an exterior fortioation directly communicated with said fortress for obseving andv shooting at bandits9 outside of such instiinition.9

18. An interior fortress for business institutions, comprising an over-head enclosure extending across the public rooin of Suche institution; door means Jfor reaohing said fortress from different ioors o such institution, and. dierent parts of the inain ioor; observation means at different points of adnea-ieee vantage in said fortress; port hole means for shooting from different points of advantage in said fortress; and a means for closing suh door rneans against attack, While on a floor other. than that of'. the door means thus closed. Y Y i 19. An interior fortress for business institutions, eoniprising' an over-head enclosure extending across the publie rooin of suchl institution; a means of reaching said. fortress from dierent Yfloors of such institution, and diierent parte of the rnain oorl; -observation means at'diierent points o afi-- vantage in saidortress; port' hole means for shooting from different points of advantage in said fortress; an exterior fortifloa tion direct-1y communicated with said.` fortress for observing and shooting at bandits,

`outside of such institution; and a means for ehsingl such door means against attaein' While on 'a floor othei` than that of the door means thus closed.

in testimony Whereoirit have hereunto set my hand on this the 28th day of June7 1926,

l oHAnLns n. snnonsn. 

